Salary Comparison

Data Scientist Salary:
San Francisco, CA vs New York, NY

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

San Francisco, CA
$207,524
/ year
+20%
difference
New York, NY
$173,630
/ year
Bottom line: San Francisco wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
San Francisco
New York
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$207,524✓ higher
$173,630
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$134,205✓ higher
$112,286
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$320,899✓ higher
$268,488
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$138,938✓ higher
$115,890
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$123,526✓ higher
$119,745
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.68×
1.45×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$134,205✓ higher
$112,286
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$320,899✓ higher
$268,488

What if you move from San Francisco to New York?

Gross salary change
$33,894
20% decrease
Take-home change
$23,048
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,781
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

San Francisco, CA$207,524
P10: $134,205Median: $207,524P90: $320,899
New York, NY$173,630
P10: $112,286Median: $173,630P90: $268,488

More Data Scientist salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Scientist earn more in San Francisco or New York?

The median Data Scientist salary in San Francisco, CA is $207,524/yr compared to $173,630/yr in New York, NY. San Francisco pays 20% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Scientist salary worth more in San Francisco or New York after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your San Francisco salary has the purchasing power of $123,526/yr in a median-cost city, vs $119,745/yr for New York. San Francisco offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in San Francisco vs New York?

After estimated taxes, a Data Scientist in San Francisco, CA takes home approximately $138,938/yr, vs $115,890/yr in New York, NY. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.